Scientist creates man-made life

An American scientist who has created synthetic life has denied accusations he's trying to "play God".

The single-celled creature created by Biologist Dr J Craig Venter has man-made DNA and he has described the organism as the next stage in humans' understanding.

The biological breakthrough has been compared with splitting the atom and Dr Venter said his team's techniques will help mankind.

It is thought the biological breakthrough could help in producing vaccines, or even in cleaning up pollution.